Occupational Therapy Sensory Assessment Gympie
Malone Therapy provides occupational therapy sensory assessments for children in Gympie and surrounding areas, from early childhood right through to the teenage years. Our paediatric occupational therapists help families understand how a child’s sensory processing affects their behaviour, emotions, and participation in everyday life.
If you are noticing big reactions to noise, touch, movement, or change in routine, a sensory processing assessment can clarify what is happening and guide practical next steps at home, preschool, and school.
Ready to explore a sensory assessment for your child? Get in touch today.
How OT Sensory Assessments Help Children
Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Profile
What does a sensory assessment tell you about your child?
An OT sensory assessment examines how your child responds to sound, touch, movement, visual input, and body position. The therapist uses sensory‑profile questionnaires, observation, and play‑based tasks to identify patterns such as:
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Sensory seeking – actively looking for extra sensory input
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Sensory sensitivity – being overly responsive to sensory stimuli
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Low registration – not noticing or responding to cues that others typically detect
The goal is to build a clear sensory profile so you can see how sensory processing links with your child’s behaviour, attention, emotions, and energy levels as they go about their day.
Sensory Modulation and Everyday Routines
How can sensory input be managed to keep a child regulated?
Many children become overwhelmed, shut down, or “bounce off the walls” when they receive too little or too much sensory input. The assessment pinpoints which inputs are calming, alerting, or overwhelming, so you can use that information to support sensory modulation across the day .
Practical supports the therapist may suggest:
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Sensory activities tailored to the child’s preferences
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Environmental adjustments (lighting, noise reduction, seating options)
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Routine‑based supports such as movement breaks or calming corners
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Parent‑coaching strategies for consistent use across home, preschool, and school
The goal is to make sensory therapy feel achievable, not an added stressor for the child or family.
Linking Sensory Assessment to Therapy and Other Supports
After a sensory profiling assessment, your child’s therapist can recommend sensory‑based occupational therapy, play‑based sessions, or a combination of approaches. Many families find that NDIS play‑based therapy is a natural way to work on regulation, social skills, and confidence using your child’s interests. If communication or social understanding is also a concern, we may suggest linking with speech therapy for children with ASD in Gympie or using OT telehealth for parent coaching and follow‑up between in‑person sessions.
Things a Sensory Processing Assessment Can Help With
A sensory processing assessment can support children who experience:
Sensory Overload Reactions
Strong reactions to noise, crowds, bright lights, or busy environments.
Sensory Avoidance
Avoidance of messy play, playground equipment, or new sensations.
Tactile Sensitivity Issues
Discomfort with clothing, shoes, hair care, toothbrushing, or certain food textures.
Regulation and Attention Challenges
Difficulty staying calm, focused, or seated during learning and group times.
Sensory-Seeking Behaviors
Constant movement, climbing, crashing, or seeking intense sensory input.
Emotional Meltdowns Linked to Sensory Overload
Big emotional reactions or “meltdowns” that seem tied to sensory overload or fatigue.
For school‑aged children, a sensory assessment may also link with supports such as handwriting assessment, classroom adjustments, and targeted sensory strategies to help them participate more comfortably in learning.